Bells Will Be Ringing

"First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. During this beautiful season when we celebrate harvest and Thanksgiving, I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.

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I've missed you all so much!  I can't believe that it's been more than a month since I've been able to post.  So....where have I been?  Sweet Mister had hip replacement surgery in November.  On the day that he had his surgery KC and David closed on a new/old home in one of our city's historical preservation districts. There's a neat story to go with the purchase of their new home, but I'll tell you about that a little later.  Sweet Mister came home from the hospital on the 23rd, KC and David made their move on the day before Thanksgiving, and we hosted Thanksgiving for the family.  I could have slept for a week, but no time for that!  

I've been dancing as fast as I can.  It's been a blessing to care for Sweet Mister, and I have often thought about those of you who are sole caregivers.  You have every ounce of respect and admiration that I can muster.  My mama was my daddy's sole caregiver for 25 years, after he became a paraplegic.  My esteem for her has always been great, and it has grown even more during the last month.  My Sweet Mister is doing quite well, and this evening some of his friends took him to one of their hunting leases for a hunt tomorrow morning.  He was ecstatic!

Today I was thrilled to once again entertain a small group of my friends.  Come on in.  We'll be seated in the dining room...

Whoa, Nelly!  What's going on?  Where are the dining room table and chairs?  That would be part of the story about KC and David's new home.  They just bought Sweet Mister's childhood home!  We are so excited about it.  It's the only home that Sweet Mister lived in, from the time he was born until we were married 45 years ago this week.  His mom sold the house in November, 1971, while Sweet Mister was in Viet Nam.  He never had the opportunity to say goodbye to the home, and now it's back in the family.  Shortly after KC and David closed on the house, Sweet Mister asked me if I would be willing to find new dining room furniture, so we could return the table and chairs to the home for which the suite was originally purchased.  I thought it was a grand idea, and immediately said "Yes!"  I found 12 Karges chairs in a wonderful local consignment shop, and the same night, I found the dining table that goes with them on....wait for it....you know the answer...yep...eBay.  It is currently at an antique store in Pennsylvania, waiting to be loaded onto a truck that was already preparing to make a trip out here to the prairie.  In the meantime, we are improvising for the Christmas season.  Never a dull moment!

Today's tablescape was all about...

Cranberry bells!  I first saw cranberry bells used on a tablescape in  A PASSION FOR FLOWERS by Carolyne Roehm.  I've never forgotten the idea, and I was inspired to collect my own grouping of bells...on eBay, of course.  Thanks for the idea, Carolyne!  I knew that I wanted to create a Christmas table with the bells, and I planned to give each of my guests a cranberry bell for their Christmas gift.  The bells also worked perfectly as place cards for the table.  The azaleas are in an old cranberry bowl that belonged to my dear Aunt Ida.

I love them!  Aren't they pretty!?  I placed the large "Whimsy" bells on festive, glittery candle rings.

 The Bormioli red glass charger plate kept with the cranberry color story.  I've had the Retroneau gold Holly flatware for many years; I always enjoy using them during the Christmas holiday.

 The texture and creamy white color of the Copeland Spode Jewel dinner plate was elegant...

 ...paired with the thumbprint ruby glass accent plate, used later for a dessert of individual sized red velvet bundt cake.

 The stack was crowned with each guest's cranberry bell.

I'm smiling...I love the way that it all came together.

I was really committed to all things cranberry for this design.  I paired the AJKA Arabella wine goblet with the Waterford Simply Red goblet.  Tip:  The Waterford goblet is actually the Glendora pattern, but you can usually find it on eBay and Replacements listed as Waterford Simply Red.

I purchased the cranberry and white Fenton splatter ware pitcher at an auction during my birthday week in early November.  It will always be a special reminder of the first time that I got to meet sweet and wonderful...

Sarah @ Hyacinths for the Soul.  She came with her friend Susan, who was helping with the auction which featured an abundance of antique Quimper.  We had a great time, I bought some wonderful treasures, and I can hardly wait for us to get together again!  It was a superb birthday treat!  But I digress...

Because we were a small group of 4 at a 60" table, I used an assortment of other cranberry glass pieces to act as "filler."  Smaller containers held posy arrangements of flowers.

We had such a wonderful time today.  I prepared Quiche Lorraine, a simple salad, mixed berries, and hot garlic bread.  I felt so blessed to have time to gather friends around my table once again.  Matter of fact, I'm hosting two more luncheons this week!  I can hardly wait!

This week I'll be joining:

"Let's Dish" with Cuisine Kathleen

"Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Jadeite and Sunflowers

"First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.
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We've had  a blessed abundance of rain this summer out here on the prairie.  Everything is green and lush.  The colors are bright and blooms are prolific all over town.  Our summer bounty was the inspiration for my table this week.

Lots of color....we could be sitting in the middle of the garden.

The colorful Zina Vasi tablecloth, an eBay find, set the color story for today's design.

 A footed Jadeite bowl held large sunflowers...

...and each place setting was punctuated with a small Jadeite footed tumbler holding a small sunflower.

 I thought that I would use either the Walmart rattan charger....

 or the Bormioli red glass charger...

 I ultimately decided to use them both.  The rattan charger on the bottom effectively made the red charger look much brighter on the dark tablecloth.

 Lunch will be served on the Fire King Jadeite Alice dinner plate.  Tip:  This plate is a good example of my philosophy of "take your time."  I've watched 12 of these sell on eBay for $500.00.  No way!  I bought mine at an estate sale for $3.00 each x 13 plates = $39.00.  I felt pretty darned cocky.

 The Jadeite Lotus plate will hold our dessert...

 ...and the Jadeite Lotus bowl will be used to serve gazpacho for a first course.

 Spicing up the table...the Vietri red optic goblet complimented the Fenton Empress amber goblet.

The Waverly beaded napkin ring, from Cuisine Kathleen, held a hemstitched napkin.  They paired nicely with the L'Argent Sophia Gold flatware.

 I liked the shapes, the textures and the colors against the florals in the tablecloth.

Vibrant...energetic...enthusiastic and fun are descriptions that come to mind.

I predict delightful fellowship and lots of laughter.  If you're passing my way, just ring the bell.  We'll add an additional place setting and pull up another chair!

This week I'll be joining the following parties:

Inspire Me Tuesday with Marty @ A Stroll Through Life
Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen
Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Birthday Luncheon for Cindy, 6.13

"First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.

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It was a gorgeous late spring day, and we were gathering to celebrate my friend Cindy's birthday.  Somedays Mr. Sunshine just seems to enjoy cooperating with my camera.

 You know the M.O.S....

...Small group of five.....games table in the living room.

 The centerpiece revolved around this Hutschenreuther tureen, an eBay find.  Tip:  I often elevate certain pieces in my centerpiece.  The vertical movement brings an extra element of interest to the eye.  Flanking the tureen are a pair of Val St. Lambert crystal candlesticks and a pair of crystal decanters found at Tuesday Morning.  The decanters will be used for iced water for my guests.

Green hydrangeas were placed in the Fenton pink ruffled coin dot bowls.  

                          

A single cluster of rhododendrons was slipped into an assortment of Waterford crystal posy vases next to each place setting.  I occasionally find the vases at estate sales and antique stores, and if I can pick one up for a great deal, it comes home with me.

 The Bormioli hot pink glass charger takes on the texture and pattern of the white mattelasse tablecloth.


 On any given day, the Coalport Exotic Bird, Z3137, is my favorite of all my patterns.  I've been searching for it for ten years, and in that time, I've located 6 dinner plates.  Just about the time that I give up on finding any more, one will pop up on eBay...so far for a very reasonable price.

 I usually don't like to cover the Exotic Bird plate, but today I happily made an exception.  I picked up 12 of this Copeland Spode unnamed luncheon plate on eBay.  I just couldn't resist them.

Topping the stack, a Tiffin gold rimmed plate hosted...

 ...a gold rimmed Glaston-Lotus footed chiller...

Be still my heart...I came across 12 of these...never used...still with the original tags...at a local antique mall...for $70.00 for the entire set.  The tag said "price firm"...I grabbed them immediately.

The Oneida Modern Baroque flatware seemed an obvious choice for today.  The Limoges open salt belonged to our Nana.  I chose the apple green hemstitched napkin and the Coalport Countryware napkin ring just for fun and whimsy.  Cindy loves pink and green.

For our wine...our sweet Nana's antique French cut crystal goblet.  I've never been able to identify it, but antique dealers always tell me that it's French.  For water or tea, the Waterford Simply Lilac goblet.  I like the way that they add additional texture and reflective value to my design.

 In the foyer, Mimosas would be awaiting my guests when they arrived...

 ...Served in the LaStelle lilac goblets, found at Home Goods during a visit to Dallas...

The antique Heisey cut crystal pitcher, found at a local antique store, was my birthday present for Cindy.

  More gifts for the birthday girl...

 On your mark...

 ...get set....

Ready to go!  It's going to be a wonderful day filled with blessed food, laughter, conversation, and fellowship.  Passing my way?  I'd love to set a table and share a meal with you!

Parties I'll be joining this week:
Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen
Tutorials, Tips, & Tidbits with Yvonne @ Stone Gable
Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters
Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper